Stokes arrested in Bristol, out of ODI

Ben Stokes and Alex Hales dropped by England for fourth ODI at The Oval following an incident in Bristol on Monday morning

Advertisement

England Test vice-captain Ben Stokes has been arrested following an incident in Bristol in the early hours of Monday morning.

Both Stokes and ODI teammate Alex Hales - who was with Stokes at the time - have been dropped by England for Wednesday's fourth one-day international against West Indies at The Oval following the incident.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday that Test vice-captain Stokes had been arrested and detained overnight before being released the following morning, while Hales was helping police with enquiries.

Local police have issued a request for information about a "disorder" that occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, saying a 26-year-old man had been "arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm" and had since been "released under investigation".

The incident followed England's win over the Windies in the third ODI on Sunday, which the hosts won by seven wickets.

"Stokes was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning, 25 September, following an incident in Bristol," the ECB said in a statement.

"He was held overnight and released under investigation - without charge - and will not join the team in London.

"Hales who was with Stokes on Sunday night did not train this morning and has returned voluntarily to Bristol today to help Police with their enquiries."

Moeen blasts incredible ton in Bristol

The Avon and Somerset Police also issued a statement: "We were called to a disorder in Queens Road, Clifton, at around 2.35am on Monday.

"A 27-year-old man was found to have suffered facial injuries and was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary for treatment.

"A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and has since been released under investigation."

England will meet the Windies in the fourth ODI at The Oval on Wednesday holding a 2-0 series lead.

ODI skipper Eoin Morgan admitted the incident had been "a bit of a distraction", saying he had been informed on Monday.

"But ultimately this game is about winning the series," Morgan said at The Oval on Tuesday.

"We feel we have a strong enough squad to be able to select from in order to fill that hole.

"Hopefully it doesn’t affect us too much."

Bairstow ton nets England win in Manchester

England's squad for the Magellan Ashes - a series in which allrounder Stokes is set to play a key role in his team's Ashes defence - is still expected be named shortly before the start of Wednesday's ODI.

Selectors are meeting on Tuesday to choose the squad and ECB Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss confirmed that both vice-captain Stokes and Nottinghamshire batsman Hales, a fringe candidate, would be considered for the tour on cricketing grounds alone.

Stokes has faced disciplinary action before - in 2011 he was arrested on a night out and received a caution from the police, while in 2013 he was sent home from an England Lions tour due to late-night drinking. In 2014, he was ruled out of the World T20 after breaking his hand punching a locker.

Last month, Stokes received a reprimand from the ICC following an "inappropriate comment" that was picked up on the stump microphone and by on-field officials during day two of the second Test against West Indies in Leeds.